WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress shipped a temporary government-wide funding bill to President Donald Trump on Friday, averting a government shutdown at midnight and buying time for on-again, off-again talks on COVID-19 relief.

The bill, which sets a new shutdown deadline of midnight next Friday, passed the Senate by a unanimous voice vote that came without much drama and sent rank-and-file senators home for the weekend with no clear picture of what awaits next week. The House passed the bill on Wednesday, and Trump is expected to sign it before midnight.

COVID-19 relief talks remain stalled but there is universal agreement that Congress won’t adjourn for the year without passing a long-delayed round of pandemic relief. An emerging $900 billion aid package from a bipartisan group of lawmakers hit a rough patch after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell swung against the effort, but negotiations are ongoing and pressure remains intense.

The House has recessed for a few days, with leaders warning members to be prepared to return to Washington to vote on the year-end deals, while the Senate will return next week.

The breakdown over the COVID-19 aid package, after days of behind-the-scenes talks by a group of lawmakers fed up with inaction, comes as Trump has taken the talks in another direction — insisting on a fresh round of $600 stimulus checks for Americans.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4929870/senators-sanders-hawley-push-direct-payments-end-year">Click here to</a> listen to Senators Hawley and Sanders

Sending direct cash payments to households was not included in the bipartisan proposal, but has been embraced by some of the president’s fiercest critics — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N,Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Independent who introduced an amendment to include the checks with Trump ally Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

Sanders had threatened to hold up the stopgap bill in hopes of adding a $1,200 direct payment to it but relented and sent members home for the weekend without delay — but with a warning.

“We’re not going to go home for the Christmas holidays unless we make sure that we provide for the millions of families in this country who are suffering,” Sanders said.

The one-week, stop-gap measure appears to have sapped some urgency from the talks. The next deadline would be Dec. 18, but both House and Senate leaders say they won’t adjourn without passing an aid measure.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Congress would keep working up to or even after Christmas to get an agreement. The new Congress is being sworn in on Jan. 3.

“Now if we need more time then we take more time, but we have to have a bill and we cannot go home without it,” Pelosi said. She also gave an upbeat assessment on the talks.

The $900 billion-plus proposal provides sweeping new funds for vaccines, small businesses, health care providers, schools and families suffering from the virus crisis and the economic shutdowns.

A key hold up has been the standoff over more money for the states, that Democrats – and some Republicans – want and the liability shield that is McConnell’s top GOP priority but that most Democrats oppose.

The partisan group tried to marry those two provisions as a compromise.

McConnell had initially proposed a five-year liability shield from virus lawsuits, retroactive to December 2019, but the bipartisan group was eyeing a scaled-back shield of six months to a year. Labor and civil rights groups oppose any shield, which they say strips essential workers of potential legal recourse as they take risks during the pandemic.

Democratic leaders had wanted far more in state and local aid, but were accepting of the lower $160 billion.

But many Republicans have long viewed the state and local aid as a bailout they would have trouble supporting, despite the pleas for funds coming from governors and mayors nationwide.

Late Thursday, Sen. Dick Durbin and other Democrats pitched another liability proposal to the bipartisan group, but it was rejected by Republicans, according to a Senate aide granted anonymity to discuss the private session.

The Trump administration is back in the middle of the negotiations with a $916 billion plan. It would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by the bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.

The White House offer has the endorsement of the top House Republican and apparent backing from McConnell, who had previously favored a $519 billion GOP plan that has already failed twice. But Democrats oppose the plan in part because of the administration’s refusal to back the partial restoration, to $300 per week, of bonus pandemic jobless benefits that lapsed in August.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607717350826.png" alt="A quiet Senate Chamber Friday afternoon-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A quiet Senate Chamber Friday afternoon-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress shipped a temporary government-wide funding bill to President Donald Trump on Friday, averting a government shutdown at midnight and buying time for on-again, off-again talks on COVID-19 relief.The bill, which sets a new shutdown deadline of midnight next Friday, passed the Senate by a unanimous voice vote that came without much drama and sent rank-and-file senators home for the weekend with no clear picture of what awaits next week. The House passed the bill on Wednesday, and Trump is expected to sign it before midnight.COVID-19 relief talks remain stalled but there is universal agreement that Congress won’t adjourn for the year without passing a long-delayed round of pandemic relief. An emerging $900 billion aid package from a bipartisan group of lawmakers hit a rough patch after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell swung against the effort, but negotiations are ongoing and pressure remains intense.The House has recessed for a few days, with leaders warning members to be prepared to return to Washington to vote on the year-end deals, while the Senate will return next week.The breakdown over the COVID-19 aid package, after days of behind-the-scenes talks by a group of lawmakers fed up with inaction, comes as Trump has taken the talks in another direction — insisting on a fresh round of $600 stimulus checks for Americans.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4929870/senators-sanders-hawley-push-direct-payments-end-year">Click here to</a> listen to Senators Hawley and Sanders<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607717640543.png" alt="Senator Josh Hawley during Friday's debate in the Senate-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Senator Josh Hawley during Friday's debate in the Senate-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Sending direct cash payments to households was not included in the bipartisan proposal, but has been embraced by some of the president’s fiercest critics — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N,Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Independent who introduced an amendment to include the checks with Trump ally Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607717691548.png" alt="Senator Bernie Sanders during Friday's debate-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Senator Bernie Sanders during Friday's debate-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Sanders had threatened to hold up the stopgap bill in hopes of adding a $1,200 direct payment to it but relented and sent members home for the weekend without delay — but with a warning.“We’re not going to go home for the Christmas holidays unless we make sure that we provide for the millions of families in this country who are suffering,” Sanders said.The one-week, stop-gap measure appears to have sapped some urgency from the talks. The next deadline would be Dec. 18, but both House and Senate leaders say they won’t adjourn without passing an aid measure.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Congress would keep working up to or even after Christmas to get an agreement. The new Congress is being sworn in on Jan. 3.“Now if we need more time then we take more time, but we have to have a bill and we cannot go home without it,” Pelosi said. She also gave an upbeat assessment on the talks.The $900 billion-plus proposal provides sweeping new funds for vaccines, small businesses, health care providers, schools and families suffering from the virus crisis and the economic shutdowns.A key hold up has been the standoff over more money for the states, that Democrats – and some Republicans – want and the liability shield that is McConnell’s top GOP priority but that most Democrats oppose.The partisan group tried to marry those two provisions as a compromise.McConnell had initially proposed a five-year liability shield from virus lawsuits, retroactive to December 2019, but the bipartisan group was eyeing a scaled-back shield of six months to a year. Labor and civil rights groups oppose any shield, which they say strips essential workers of potential legal recourse as they take risks during the pandemic.Democratic leaders had wanted far more in state and local aid, but were accepting of the lower $160 billion.But many Republicans have long viewed the state and local aid as a bailout they would have trouble supporting, despite the pleas for funds coming from governors and mayors nationwide.Late Thursday, Sen. Dick Durbin and other Democrats pitched another liability proposal to the bipartisan group, but it was rejected by Republicans, according to a Senate aide granted anonymity to discuss the private session.The Trump administration is back in the middle of the negotiations with a $916 billion plan. It would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by the bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.The White House offer has the endorsement of the top House Republican and apparent backing from McConnell, who had previously favored a $519 billion GOP plan that has already failed twice. But Democrats oppose the plan in part because of the administration’s refusal to back the partial restoration, to $300 per week, of bonus pandemic jobless benefits that lapsed in August.&nbsp;&nbsp;

No vote on stimulus checks; funding bill sent to President

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Officials in Kansas City, Missouri, are pushing the leader of the city's fire department to address longstanding discrimination against Black firefighters, after a newspaper investigation found Black and female firefighters have been blocked from promotions and faced harassment for decades.

Kansas City Fire Chief Donna Lake, who is white, told the City Council Thursday that new City Manager Brian Platt has directed her to implement a plan to address the problem, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article247732345.html">reported</a>.

Lake testified before the council days after The Star published the results of a year-long investigation, which found unwritten rules within the department kept Black firefighters from preferred stations, hampered their ability to be promoted and often left them ostracized in majority-white stations.

In one incident, a white fire cadet “joked” that his favorite knot was a noose and placed it around the neck of Black classmate at the fire academy two years ago. The city tried to fire him but he resigned after intervention from the firefighters union.

“Where was the support for the brother who had the noose put around his neck?” Councilman Lee Barnes Jr. asked Lake. "That’s the kind of culture that needs to be obliterated. We need to blow that up.”

Lake, who has been chief for a year, did not dispute the newspaper's findings.

“I have no words to say about it,” Lake said to Barnes, “other than I agree wholeheartedly with you.”

The chief said her plan includes investigating claims made in the report, hiring someone outside the department to ensure fair treatment of all employees, and improving recruitment and promotion systems.

The paper reported that only 14% of fire department employees are Black, in a city where 30% of residents are Black. Its stations remain unofficially segregated by longstanding promotion practices and at some busy, inner-city fire stations, there hasn’t been a Black captain in at least a decade.

Female firefighters also reported severe sexual harassment. And the city has not outfitted all of its stations for women, despite promising to use revenue from a special sales tax to make those upgrades.

Lake said the department has already made some efforts to address discrimination and poor recruitment of minority members but acknowledged those efforts have either fallen short or are relatively new.

Civil rights leaders who listened to the remarks were not impressed and noted that Lake and Platt, who is also white, did not seek input from Black leaders for their plans.

“We are insulted at her insinuation of the age-old excuse ‘we can’t find them’ or ‘they don’t qualify,’” Vernon Howard, head of the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said in a written response.

The plan also calls for development of a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory behavior, a review of fairness in promotion, changes to make firefighters more comfortable with filing complaints, and the creation of an equity and diversity officer position.

Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said she believes Lake is part of the problem.

“For more than 20 years, she has been a silent witness to racism and discrimination inside KCFD. For the past 365 days she failed to take immediate, impactful steps to put a stop to the racial violence in her department and hold her captains and administrators accountable. Her presentation (Thursday) was nothing more than window dressing," Grant said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Officials in Kansas City, Missouri, are pushing the leader of the city's fire department to address longstanding discrimination against Black firefighters, after a newspaper investigation found Black and female firefighters have been blocked from promotions and faced harassment for decades.Kansas City Fire Chief Donna Lake, who is white, told the City Council Thursday that new City Manager Brian Platt has directed her to implement a plan to address the problem, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article247732345.html">reported</a>.Lake testified before the council days after The Star published the results of a year-long investigation, which found unwritten rules within the department kept Black firefighters from preferred stations, hampered their ability to be promoted and often left them ostracized in majority-white stations.In one incident, a white fire cadet “joked” that his favorite knot was a noose and placed it around the neck of Black classmate at the fire academy two years ago. The city tried to fire him but he resigned after intervention from the firefighters union.“Where was the support for the brother who had the noose put around his neck?” Councilman Lee Barnes Jr. asked Lake. "That’s the kind of culture that needs to be obliterated. We need to blow that up.”Lake, who has been chief for a year, did not dispute the newspaper's findings.“I have no words to say about it,” Lake said to Barnes, “other than I agree wholeheartedly with you.”The chief said her plan includes investigating claims made in the report, hiring someone outside the department to ensure fair treatment of all employees, and improving recruitment and promotion systems.The paper reported that only 14% of fire department employees are Black, in a city where 30% of residents are Black. Its stations remain unofficially segregated by longstanding promotion practices and at some busy, inner-city fire stations, there hasn’t been a Black captain in at least a decade.Female firefighters also reported severe sexual harassment. And the city has not outfitted all of its stations for women, despite promising to use revenue from a special sales tax to make those upgrades.Lake said the department has already made some efforts to address discrimination and poor recruitment of minority members but acknowledged those efforts have either fallen short or are relatively new.Civil rights leaders who listened to the remarks were not impressed and noted that Lake and Platt, who is also white, did not seek input from Black leaders for their plans.“We are insulted at her insinuation of the age-old excuse ‘we can’t find them’ or ‘they don’t qualify,’” Vernon Howard, head of the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said in a written response.The plan also calls for development of a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory behavior, a review of fairness in promotion, changes to make firefighters more comfortable with filing complaints, and the creation of an equity and diversity officer position.Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said she believes Lake is part of the problem.“For more than 20 years, she has been a silent witness to racism and discrimination inside KCFD. For the past 365 days she failed to take immediate, impactful steps to put a stop to the racial violence in her department and hold her captains and administrators accountable. Her presentation (Thursday) was nothing more than window dressing," Grant said.

Kansas City Fire Department accused of long-standing racism

I lost my job a few days ago. We had an idea cuts were coming, but I thought it wouldn’t happen until well into the new year. My wife works, so that’s a good thing, and we’re both in our thirties. Do you have any advice for how we should handle things during the Christmas season and until I’m working again?

I’m really sorry to hear this. Losing your job around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-costly-christmas-mistake" target="_blank">the holidays</a>&nbsp;can feel like a nightmare.

But before you despair, remember this is also the season of hope. And hope can’t be taken from you. It can only be surrendered. Keep your head held high, and focus on what’s still in your control.

First, cut back on your spending. When your income changes for the worse, eliminating all unnecessary spending is key. This is not the time to put Christmas on a credit card, or dip into retirement to cover holiday expenses. The last thing you should do right now is steal from your future to buy more stuff. Find some kind of seasonal work. Even if you’re packing boxes or stocking shelves, you’re contributing to your household and easing the stress. This side income will be a real blessing as you continue your career search.

Be open with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/change-your-family-tree" target="_blank">your family</a>, and what this change means. If there are kids in the picture, you and your wife should be in agreement on how you handle things where they’re concerned. Explain to them in an honest, loving way what has happened, and that Christmas will look a little different this year. A couple of inexpensive gifts may not be out of the question, but as harsh as it sounds, presents are not a priority right now. It may be uncomfortable or disappointing for everyone, but it can also offer a bonding opportunity&nbsp;and&nbsp;a valuable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/relationships-and-money/letting-kids-make-money-mistakes" target="_blank">life lesson</a>.

Keep a positive outlook, and stick to your normal routine as much as possible in the days ahead. Wake up early every morning, and make a list of things you will accomplish that day. Update your résumé, start networking, and begin submitting applications like&nbsp;that’s&nbsp;your new job. Work hard, stay hopeful, and focus on the goals ahead of you.&nbsp;

Refuse to give up, Brandon, and you&nbsp;will&nbsp;succeed. May God bless you and your family!

<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time No. 1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Dave Ramsey Show, heard by more than 16 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596845065840.jpeg" alt="Dave Ramsey&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I lost my job a few days ago. We had an idea cuts were coming, but I thought it wouldn’t happen until well into the new year. My wife works, so that’s a good thing, and we’re both in our thirties. Do you have any advice for how we should handle things during the Christmas season and until I’m working again?BrandonDear Brandon,I’m really sorry to hear this. Losing your job around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-costly-christmas-mistake" target="_blank">the holidays</a>&nbsp;can feel like a nightmare.But before you despair, remember this is also the season of hope. And hope can’t be taken from you. It can only be surrendered. Keep your head held high, and focus on what’s still in your control.First, cut back on your spending. When your income changes for the worse, eliminating all unnecessary spending is key. This is not the time to put Christmas on a credit card, or dip into retirement to cover holiday expenses. The last thing you should do right now is steal from your future to buy more stuff. Find some kind of seasonal work. Even if you’re packing boxes or stocking shelves, you’re contributing to your household and easing the stress. This side income will be a real blessing as you continue your career search.Be open with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/change-your-family-tree" target="_blank">your family</a>, and what this change means. If there are kids in the picture, you and your wife should be in agreement on how you handle things where they’re concerned. Explain to them in an honest, loving way what has happened, and that Christmas will look a little different this year. A couple of inexpensive gifts may not be out of the question, but as harsh as it sounds, presents are not a priority right now. It may be uncomfortable or disappointing for everyone, but it can also offer a bonding opportunity&nbsp;and&nbsp;a valuable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/relationships-and-money/letting-kids-make-money-mistakes" target="_blank">life lesson</a>.Keep a positive outlook, and stick to your normal routine as much as possible in the days ahead. Wake up early every morning, and make a list of things you will accomplish that day. Update your résumé, start networking, and begin submitting applications like&nbsp;that’s&nbsp;your new job. Work hard, stay hopeful, and focus on the goals ahead of you.&nbsp;Refuse to give up, Brandon, and you&nbsp;will&nbsp;succeed. May God bless you and your family!Dave<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time No. 1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Dave Ramsey Show, heard by more than 16 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Hope can’t be taken from you

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' coordinators and linebacker Anthony Hitchens chatted with the media Thursday. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' coordinators and linebacker Anthony Hitchens chatted with the media Thursday. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F718433028786840%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F822752411618428%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

🎥Chiefs' coordinators, Hitchens talk football on Thursday

WASHINGTON—After 40 years of public service, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts delivered his final speech on the Senate floor on Thursday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://senatorroberts.app.box.com/s/42cd9532ysvqhzqty1zhh9u3qtvdp2zd">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;a replay of the speech and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBLYTtGXBTU&amp;feature=youtu.be">click here to </a>watch Senator Moran's tribute to Senator Roberts.

Senator Roberts is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He becomes the first member of Congress in history to have chaired both the House Agriculture Committee and the Senate committee. He has also served as the ranking member of each committee.

For 16 years, Roberts represented the Big First District of Kansas, including his home of Dodge City, in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He is finishing his fourth term.

Below are Senator Roberts’ remarks as prepared for delivery.

Mr. President, my colleagues, I thank the leadership on both sides for this opportunity to give the “Pat Roberts Adios Amigos” speech.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The story of how I got into politics is a pretty straight family path. As a fourth generation Kansan, my great grandfathers, on both sides of the Roberts - Patrick family were pioneer newspaper editors who came to Kansas as crusading abolitionists.&nbsp;

To say I bleed fourth generation printers ink would be close to the truth.

However, the main influence that drew me to public service was my Dad, Wes Roberts, who was a newspaper man – and soon journalism led to politics. He served as chief of staff and an advisor for several Kansas governors, before becoming State Republican Chairman.

In 1952, my Dad was asked to head up the Citizens for Ike campaign team, which was a genuine army of volunteers, made up of legions of veterans, women’s groups and mostly Republicans who wanted a candidate who could win. Plus, they really liked Ike.

At 16, in my Dad’s tow, I was a sergeant of arms at the 1952 convention, back when conventions actually chose the nominee for president. I vividly remember two lasting experiences.

The renowned Senator from Illinois, Everett Dirksen, was a key leader in the Bob Taft campaign. &nbsp;Senator Dirksen, known for his long eloquent speeches, was in the midst of his convention remarks, when the entire New York delegation, led by former Governor and presidential candidate Tom Dewey, marched in and, with considerable noise, took their seats.

Dirksen paused and pointing directly at Dewey, and with his booming voice, said this:

“You, sir, have led this Republican Party down to defeat in 1944 and again in 1948. Don’t do it again!”

Whereupon, the entire New York delegation stood up and gave Dirksen the “raspberry”.

And, I thought, this is what adults do at a convention?

One morning I was in a meeting with my Dad and the top Ike campaign brass - Dewey, Lodge, Brownell, and other GOP movers and shakers. He told me to sit and be quiet.

He was in the midst of suggesting the “Fair Play” amendment given that the new Ike delegates from the “Solid South” had surprised the “old guard” and won delegate seats at the state conventions -- only to be replaced by the old guard at later surprise conventions. Unlike MacArthur, “old guards” never die or fade away.

My Dad said there was no downside if they lost and he believed they could win a majority of the delegates. The “Fair Play” amendment passed and Ike won on the first ballot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I thought to myself, “Wow! My Dad helped Ike win!” I met the General, shook his hand, then again at the 1953 Inaugural ceremonies when my Dad became Republican National Chairman.

It was these reflections, told to my great friend and Medal of Honor recipient, Senator Danny Inouye, that prompted him to say, “I fought for Ike, you met him, it’s up to you to get his memorial done.”

And, after a 21 year effort, we did just that with the help from Bob Dole, Jim Baker, Susan Eisenhower, the Eisenhower family and Senator Lisa Murkowski, who kept the Ike Commission going during the tough years. Finally, we now have an appropriate, if not stunning, memorial to the Kansan who saved Western Democracy in World War II and led America onto the world stage.

With the final dedication of the Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial at the end of my Senate career, it is a full circle family accomplishment. If my Dad helped elect Ike, then the least I could do was to lead the effort to make a memorial on the mall to a great general and president a reality.

In a homecoming address Eisenhower famously said, “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” He was a small town Kansas boy who saved western democracy and led the nation for 8 years of peace and prosperity.

I too come from a small town in Kansas. So how did this boy from Holton, Kansas, become the longest serving member of Congress in Kansas history?

Like father, like son, I graduated from K-State, with a degree in journalism.

My father joined the Marines in World War II and saw action in both Okinawa and Iwo Jima. I joined in peace time, served on Okinawa and was part of the first Marine contingent return to Iwo Jima on the 15th anniversary of that battle.

From Marine Captain to newspaper editor and news director of a radio station in Arizona, I dropped everything and drove to Washington when Senator Frank Carlson asked me to come work for him.

Within weeks of leaving Phoenix, I was the Chief of Staff for Senator Frank Carlson, a venerable and highly respected Senator, who made his mark on Kansas history as the only person to serve our state as a congressman, governor, senator, UN delegate, and the founder of the national prayer breakfast.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Life changed dramatically. I always thought a bachelor was a man who did not make the same mistake once. Then, into my life came a tall, blonde, blue-eyed magnolia blossom from South Carolina.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Franki and I have been married for 51 years and have been blessed with three children and eight grandchildren. I am who I am because Franki is my wife and we are parents to David, Ashleigh, and Ann Wesley; and Papa Pat to Lorena, Patrick, Sayaka, Lilly, Charlie, Miles, Oliver, and Graham. My family is my crowning achievement.

Senator Frank was a great mentor. He always said, “There are no self-made men or women in public office, it is your friends and family who make you what you are.” &nbsp; &nbsp;

He taught me a great lesson: “Your true friends stand behind you when you are taking the bows and beside you when there any boo’s.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

Following the two year stint with the Senator, I was privileged to work 12 years for the newly elected congressman from the “Big First” district of Kansas as his chief of staff.

Keith Sebelius, was a wonderful man, a leader on the House Agriculture Committee and the Interior Committee, especially with regard to improvements and restoration of our national parks.

Upon Keith’s retirement, a group of party stalwarts encouraged me to run. Franki simply said, “This is what you always wanted to do, let’s do it.”

So, for nine months, with no paycheck or health insurance, and limited savings with three young children, Dodge City became my home. Most sane candidates would not attempt to go door to door in a district larger than most states. However, with a lot of help, we won a tough primary and not so tough general election – the first of 24 straight victories.

I was ranking to Chairman Kika de la Garza and when the l994 revolution put Republicans in the majority after being in the wilderness for over 40 years – suddenly, I was chairman. In 1996, we achieved a major farm policy reform, changing 40 years of farm bill policy. To this day, farmers still have the Freedom to Farm what they want.

I have had the honor and privilege of representing Kansans for 16 years in the House and 24 in the Senate. The Pat Roberts of 1980 was fighting for Kansas values and for the issues that affect the daily lives and pocketbooks of all Kansans. As the Pat Roberts of 1996, I promised that, if elected to the Senate, when Kansas spoke, Washington would listen.

I have held six gavels in the House and Senate, and that, in and of itself, might be a record. But, it’s what happened during my tenures as chairman that I believe have had the most lasting impacts. It’s not just having the gavel – it’s what you do with it.

Taking part and leading eight farm bills in the House and Senate have touched and improved many lives, and I’ve always been mindful of what farm families do for our nation and a troubled and hungry world as we crafted each bill.

I was fortunate that my first committee assignments were to serve on the Armed Services Committee, as well as Agriculture. Strom Thurmond was the very senior Chairman who, as the country song goes, never even called me by name. I was recognized as “the Senator who had the good sense to marry a fine, beautiful, South Carolina girl.”

My role on Armed Services Committee was to collect the small change left by the Air Force to enable the Marine Corps to continue to be our nation’s force in readiness, not to mention a new warfighting lab.

I also had the privilege of being the Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman for four years during the Iraq War, and led the Committee’s investigation that exposed a worldwide intelligence failure resulting in a blueprint for the 9/11 Commission and a better Intelligence Community that kept our country safer.&nbsp;

As Chairman of the brand new, Emerging Threats Subcommittee within the Armed Services Committee, I traveled to cities within what remained of the former Soviet Union. In one of the Soviet “secret cities”, we discovered a lab that had developed strains of pathogens that could do irreparable harm to any nation’s food supply! Talk about an “Evil Empire!”

I caution my colleagues: that threat still exists even as we endeavor to continue the worldwide fight against COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

It has taken over 20 years to respond to this threat with a biological containment and research lab, and we still are not done!

I’ve put a lifetime of work into NBAF, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, in Manhattan, Kansas. It will soon serve as the first line of defense to protect American agriculture and the world’s food supply.

I have also been privileged to serve on the HELP committee. Thank you to Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray for supporting my amendments, especially with regard to rural health care.

And, finally, I chaired the Senate Ethics Committee. I don’t know what I have done wrong, but I have been a member of the committee for what I am sure is a record of 24 years.&nbsp;

As I move out of my office – formerly a veritable museum of pictures, awards, and stuff we all collect – all that remains are the barren beige walls, full of memories and stories, which are all classified.

However, I still have my Marine Corps bumper sticker: “To err is human, to forgive is divine, neither is Marine Corps policy.” Marines never give up, we take the hill and the discipline and focus I learned in the Marine Corps never failed me in my toughest battles in the Senate. Semper Fi!

And still in the office, of course, a framed statement with the advice of LBJ: “Sometimes you have to hunker down like a jackass in a hail storm and just take it”.

On that note, if you want to avoid a hailstorm, get a good staff! You’re only as good as your staff, and I have the best staff in Washington because they always took the Hill.

My Chiefs of Staff: Leroy Towns, Jackie Cottrell and Chad Tenpenny, my DC Deputy Chief of Staff Amber Kirchhoefer, and my Ag Committee staff directors: Mike Seyfert, Joel Leftwich, and James Glueck led the posse. They always checked to make sure the herd was still there, and we didn’t ride into any box canyons.

To the staff currently in this chamber with me and those watching on C-SPAN, thank you. It has been an honor to have you call me “Boss.” Always remember, you are family. I couldn’t have asked for a more loyal, dedicated or talented staff.

To be a member of this United States Senate is a true privilege. A working family, it is the greatest deliberative body in the world. But, today, as compared to when I first came to the Senate, it’s the deliberative part that gives me great concern. I lament the loss of comity, the ability to work together, or just to get along. Sadly, gridlock appears to be the new normal. However, it does not have to be.

I am very proud that I have had the privilege of being chairman of a committee that does get along and we do get things done – the Senate Agriculture Committee. And, it really is not that hard.&nbsp;

First, we represent the best of our nation – farmers, ranchers, growers, and the entire food value chain. We know we have a collective job to do in their behalf – and we do just that.

Second, we convene in a small hearing room, in pre-COVID times, right across the table from each other.&nbsp;

Third, for the most part, we actually know one another! I used to be the ranking Republican member when Senator Stabenow was the Chairperson. We worked together on the 2014 farm bill. In 2018, it wasn’t our first rodeo!

We knew, regardless of what each of us wanted, passing a farm bill was paramount. We had an agreement: no surprises, no press the other one did not know about, and we held hearings together all over the country to listen to all of agriculture. I went to the campus of Michigan State and wore green and white, she came to Kansas State and wore purple. We not only agreed to work together, we gave staff marching orders to do the same. We also became friends, I protected her, and she protected me in conference and we got 87 votes, setting a record for a farm bill.

Now, we ordinarily do not vote alike on the floor, but we remain friends, and that is the way it should be. Friendship and comity is the norm for the Ag Committee, it could be for the whole Senate.

And though things in this great country are rocky, I have a news flash: these are not the worst of times.&nbsp;

When I first came to Washington in early 1967, our nation experienced the tragedy of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Within hours, Washington was on fire, Marines on the Capitol steps with sand bags and automatic weapons with live ammunition.&nbsp;

Advised to leave the beltway, I mistakenly thought I could get to my parents’ apartment house via the Rock Creek Parkway. No traffic was moving, tear gas in the air, and random gunshots rang out. I decided to jump the curb, drive on the sidewalks and eventually on the mall itself.

The police told me the parkway was closed. When they focused on the next drivers, I jumped the curb and took off on the parkway.

As bad as that period of time was, it was not as bad as the military march on thousands of WWI veterans demonstrating on the mall and setting up camp in the mid l930's and demanding bonuses.&nbsp; President Hoover ordered them removed by military force. Led by none other than Douglas MacArthur complete with a tank, horse cavalry with swords, and armed troops, the bonus vets were quickly dispersed or rounded up.

Fast forward, the 1968 Chicago riots, Kent State and the horrible shooting of students by untrained guardsmen. Sen. Bobby Kennedy running for president only to suffer the same fate as his brother. And then came Watergate.

Those days were tough. It was almost impossible to not face the bitter splits over political parties and even families.

Today we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic – and even that has fallen into politics – but it doesn’t have to be.

At home, Kansas has been dealt its fair share of hardships. But in Kansas, we don’t let disasters define us. We grab our bootstraps and get to work. That’s our normal.

Multiple prairie fires have ravaged Kansas farms and ranches – the Anderson Creek Fire in 2016, the Starbuck fire in 2017. Those folks have learned to adapt and build back, with the help of USDA disaster programs.

We also had the tale of Treece, Kansas – once a boomtown turned toxic waste dump – it was an extremely unsafe, unhealthy place for folks to live. Working with the Obama administration’s EPA – no less, we relocated them to safer places and (literally) greener pastures – because working across party lines is what we do in Kansas.

Let’s not forget about the EF-5 tornado in 2007 that completely destroyed the community of Greensburg.

I immediately called President Bush from a McDonald’s in the next town and asked for help. When I hung up, there were 25 people gathered around me, listening.

One old timer in his bib overalls said to me, “Was that the President of the United States?” I said, you bet. He turned to his wife and said, “Mother, see? I told you. I told you Pat was talking to the president and we’d get help.” And FEMA was there the next day.

In a FEMA-issued tent, I talked to the graduating senior class whose school and homes were but a pile of debris and told them, “You are the class of hope and destiny.”

The following year, President George W. Bush spoke at graduation. The size of that audience matched the size of hope that Kansans had for their future and rebuilding of their lives.

I’m reminded of the optimism of those speeches and the optimism I have for our country.

We endured these hardships and came out on the other side. We did it by changing the old normal and creating a new normal.

Here, in the Senate, only we can decide what our new normal is, and we ought to get to know one another. We don’t have to let the apparent gravitational pull of more and more politics in pursuit of power to change what our founders gave us – the creation of a nation of liberty and freedom, the envy of the world – and to literally move the United States Senate from the moorings of its historic and great past to simply be a rubber stamp for radical change.

The beauty is that we can decide what our normal is. We don’t have to let circumstances dictate our future. Let us once again become a body of respect, humility, cooperation, achievement and friendship. That can and should be our new normal.

The entire country could use a little bit of what we say in Kansas, “Ad astra per aspera” – to the stars through difficulties.

As my time in the Senate draws to a close, I have done my best to improve the lives of Kansans and all Americans. I have worked tirelessly for decades to accomplish big and small things so that this generation and future generations might live and achieve the American dream.

To Kansas, I say a humble thank you. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in this Great Body.

To my colleagues, thank you for fighting on behalf of our great nation and alongside me to preserve this chamber.

As I ride off into the sunset, to create a new normal for Franki and me, I will be cheering for the Senate to rebuild the bridges of comity that will create a new normal.

My colleagues, my time is up. Thank you for yours.

🎥  Sen. Pat Roberts 'adios amigos' speech in U.S. Senate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid,&nbsp;Bashaud Breeland, Mecole Hardman, and Patrick Mahomes talk football with the media Wednesday. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid,&nbsp;Bashaud Breeland, Mecole Hardman, and Patrick Mahomes talk football with the media Wednesday. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F662063011141501%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

🎥Chiefs' Reid, Breeland, Hardman, Mahomes talk football

By&nbsp;C.J. JANOVY <a href="http://kansasreflector.com">Kansas Reflector</a>

Sandy Beverly has lived in Salina for 50 years. She retired a couple of years ago from her job as an investigator with the city’s human relations office, which dealt with discrimination cases. She’s been secretary of the local NAACP chapter for several years.

But for much of that time, she’d never heard about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20742544/dana-adams">lynching of Dana Adams</a>.

Described by the Salina Daily Republican in 1893 as “a well known negro tough,” Adams was one of four Black men supposedly “loafing” at the Union Pacific train depot at 6:30 one morning. When the janitor ordered them out, Adams argued. The two fought, and Adams cut the janitor with a razor (his injury was not fatal). Someone called the sheriff. Adams was taken to jail. Hearing rumors he would be lynched, the sheriff put Adams on a train for Leavenworth. But the train sat at the station long enough for someone to uncouple Adams’ car, which stayed on the tracks as the train pulled away.

Immediately a crowd converged upon the passenger coach, gained entry and overpowered the sheriff and his deputies. The mob dragged their victim from the train to the Union Pacific depot and hanged him from a telegraph pole on April 20, 1893. No arrests for this murder were ever made. Adams' father refused to assume responsibility for the burial, saying the white people had killed him and they should bury him.&nbsp;&nbsp;– Gypsum Hill Cemetery Historical Walk, published by the City of Salina, Parks &amp; Recreation and the Salina Public Library

Beverly finally heard this story during a Juneteenth celebration in 2009 when some others placed a stone on what had been Adams’ unmarked grave. She was most fascinated by one detail in the newspaper accounts.

“They said nobody recognized these people who took the man from the train and hung him,” Beverly says.

Sheriff Anderson and Deputy Phillips stated that there was fully two hundred in the crowd, but a large number were spectators who had been attracted by the shooting and took no part. The officers say that the leaders were strangers and unknown to any of the officers. They saw many Salina faces in the crowd, but Salina people did not seem to be taking an active part. All three officers stated that they thought the leaders in the mob were railroad employes (sic) from neighboring towns.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;Salina Daily Republican, April 21, 1893

“We have some very old, longstanding families in this community,” Beverly notes. “I was like, huh. You can’t convince me that nobody in Salina saw any of this happen.”

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/30/by-facing-more-of-its-racist-truths-kansas-and-america-could-heal-more-of-its-divides/">I wrote about</a>&nbsp;the 1901 lynching of Fred Alexander in Leavenworth. I was arguing that Kansas could help heal America’s divides by facing more of its racist truths. One way to do that is in partnership with the&nbsp;<a href="https://eji.org/projects/community-remembrance-project/">Equal Justice Initiative</a>&nbsp;in Montgomery, Alabama, which helps with community remembrance projects to place historical markers at lynching sites.

It turns out two such efforts are already underway. One is in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/momentum-gathers-for-lynching-memorial-in-lawrence">Lawrence</a>, which we’ll hear more about in the days ahead. The other is in Salina.

Beverly and two ministers —&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/07/salina-lynching-memorial-advocates-want-to-show-this-did-happen-in-kansas/Dee%20J.%20Williamston">Delores ‘Dee’ J. Williamston</a>, district superintendent for the Great Plains United Methodist Conference, and Martha Murchison, pastor of&nbsp;<a href="http://sunrisepresbyterian.com/">Sunrise Presbyterian</a>&nbsp;— are working with the Equal Justice Initiative on behalf of a much larger coalition formed over the summer to bring a marker to Salina.

It was Williamston who led the 2009 Juneteenth celebration to place a headstone where Adams was buried.

“We were just trying to tell the community this did happen in Kansas,” says Williamston, who grew up in Topeka. “We’re not the deep south. I think most people don’t know lynchings happened all over all over the country, even in the middle of the Great Plains.”

Murchison was moved to action after a visit to the EJI’s museum and memorial not long after it&nbsp;<a href="https://eji.org/news/national-memorial-and-legacy-museum-open-thursday-april-26/">opened in 2018</a>.

“I went to their website and there’s an&nbsp;<a href="https://lynchinginamerica.eji.org/explore">interactive map</a>&nbsp;you can click on places where they have lynchings memorialized,” says Murchison, who grew up in South Carolina. “I expected to find the town that I grew up in with a red dot and there wasn’t one. But then I noticed a red dot in the middle of the country. I clicked on it and it was Saline County. I was stupefied.”

In fact, the Equal Justice Initiative lists 19 lynchings in Kansas between 1882 and 1920.

After her trip to Montgomery, Murchison began talking with groups around Salina.

“It’s been a known fact,” she says of Adams’ lynching — historians have given presentations about it, and the library produced a booklet for the cemetery walk.

“But we haven’t really grappled with it, that it was such an injustice,” Murchison says.

Many people in Salina were horrified when it happened, she adds.

“You could hear it in the editorials of the time — they were deeply ashamed. Upstanding citizens said, ‘That’s not who we are and we shouldn’t do this,’ ” she says.

Still, she says, Kansas needs to own its history.

“To give those victims justice, at least in terms of recognition of what happened to them,” Murchison says.

Beverly says her grandchildren have been listening to her talk about the project. She tells them she’s doing it because she wants people to stop and think before they act.

“If it’s that easy to designate someone unfit, unhuman because of a disability, the color of their skin, their sex, their sexual orientation — all the stupid labels — be aware because it could be you,” she says.

“Someone could decide whatever it is about you is the wrong thing and could target you,” she says. “History has proven that over and over again. That’s what we do.”

The above opinion piece is republished with permission from Kansas Reflector.

C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch, where Janovy and her writers won numerous local, regional and national awards.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607388790539.png" alt="Community members placed a stone at the previously unmarked grave of Dana Adams of Salina during a Juneteenth celebration in 2009. (Abner Perney)" />
 <figcaption>Community members placed a stone at the previously unmarked grave of Dana Adams of Salina during a Juneteenth celebration in 2009. (Abner Perney)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;C.J. JANOVY <a href="http://kansasreflector.com">Kansas Reflector</a>Sandy Beverly has lived in Salina for 50 years. She retired a couple of years ago from her job as an investigator with the city’s human relations office, which dealt with discrimination cases. She’s been secretary of the local NAACP chapter for several years.But for much of that time, she’d never heard about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20742544/dana-adams">lynching of Dana Adams</a>.Described by the Salina Daily Republican in 1893 as “a well known negro tough,” Adams was one of four Black men supposedly “loafing” at the Union Pacific train depot at 6:30 one morning. When the janitor ordered them out, Adams argued. The two fought, and Adams cut the janitor with a razor (his injury was not fatal). Someone called the sheriff. Adams was taken to jail. Hearing rumors he would be lynched, the sheriff put Adams on a train for Leavenworth. But the train sat at the station long enough for someone to uncouple Adams’ car, which stayed on the tracks as the train pulled away.Immediately a crowd converged upon the passenger coach, gained entry and overpowered the sheriff and his deputies. The mob dragged their victim from the train to the Union Pacific depot and hanged him from a telegraph pole on April 20, 1893. No arrests for this murder were ever made. Adams' father refused to assume responsibility for the burial, saying the white people had killed him and they should bury him.&nbsp;&nbsp;– Gypsum Hill Cemetery Historical Walk, published by the City of Salina, Parks &amp; Recreation and the Salina Public LibraryBeverly finally heard this story during a Juneteenth celebration in 2009 when some others placed a stone on what had been Adams’ unmarked grave. She was most fascinated by one detail in the newspaper accounts.“They said nobody recognized these people who took the man from the train and hung him,” Beverly says.Sheriff Anderson and Deputy Phillips stated that there was fully two hundred in the crowd, but a large number were spectators who had been attracted by the shooting and took no part. The officers say that the leaders were strangers and unknown to any of the officers. They saw many Salina faces in the crowd, but Salina people did not seem to be taking an active part. All three officers stated that they thought the leaders in the mob were railroad employes (sic) from neighboring towns.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;Salina Daily Republican, April 21, 1893“We have some very old, longstanding families in this community,” Beverly notes. “I was like, huh. You can’t convince me that nobody in Salina saw any of this happen.”Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/30/by-facing-more-of-its-racist-truths-kansas-and-america-could-heal-more-of-its-divides/">I wrote about</a>&nbsp;the 1901 lynching of Fred Alexander in Leavenworth. I was arguing that Kansas could help heal America’s divides by facing more of its racist truths. One way to do that is in partnership with the&nbsp;<a href="https://eji.org/projects/community-remembrance-project/">Equal Justice Initiative</a>&nbsp;in Montgomery, Alabama, which helps with community remembrance projects to place historical markers at lynching sites.It turns out two such efforts are already underway. One is in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/momentum-gathers-for-lynching-memorial-in-lawrence">Lawrence</a>, which we’ll hear more about in the days ahead. The other is in Salina.Beverly and two ministers —&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/07/salina-lynching-memorial-advocates-want-to-show-this-did-happen-in-kansas/Dee%20J.%20Williamston">Delores ‘Dee’ J. Williamston</a>, district superintendent for the Great Plains United Methodist Conference, and Martha Murchison, pastor of&nbsp;<a href="http://sunrisepresbyterian.com/">Sunrise Presbyterian</a>&nbsp;— are working with the Equal Justice Initiative on behalf of a much larger coalition formed over the summer to bring a marker to Salina.It was Williamston who led the 2009 Juneteenth celebration to place a headstone where Adams was buried.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607388936438.png" alt="Sandy Beverly, left, and Dee Williamston are two of the leaders working with the Equal Justice Initiative on the Dana Adams community remembrance project in Salina. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sandy Beverly, left, and Dee Williamston are two of the leaders working with the Equal Justice Initiative on the Dana Adams community remembrance project in Salina. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“We were just trying to tell the community this did happen in Kansas,” says Williamston, who grew up in Topeka. “We’re not the deep south. I think most people don’t know lynchings happened all over all over the country, even in the middle of the Great Plains.”Murchison was moved to action after a visit to the EJI’s museum and memorial not long after it&nbsp;<a href="https://eji.org/news/national-memorial-and-legacy-museum-open-thursday-april-26/">opened in 2018</a>.“I went to their website and there’s an&nbsp;<a href="https://lynchinginamerica.eji.org/explore">interactive map</a>&nbsp;you can click on places where they have lynchings memorialized,” says Murchison, who grew up in South Carolina. “I expected to find the town that I grew up in with a red dot and there wasn’t one. But then I noticed a red dot in the middle of the country. I clicked on it and it was Saline County. I was stupefied.”In fact, the Equal Justice Initiative lists 19 lynchings in Kansas between 1882 and 1920.After her trip to Montgomery, Murchison began talking with groups around Salina.“It’s been a known fact,” she says of Adams’ lynching — historians have given presentations about it, and the library produced a booklet for the cemetery walk.“But we haven’t really grappled with it, that it was such an injustice,” Murchison says.Many people in Salina were horrified when it happened, she adds.“You could hear it in the editorials of the time — they were deeply ashamed. Upstanding citizens said, ‘That’s not who we are and we shouldn’t do this,’ ” she says.Still, she says, Kansas needs to own its history.“To give those victims justice, at least in terms of recognition of what happened to them,” Murchison says.Beverly says her grandchildren have been listening to her talk about the project. She tells them she’s doing it because she wants people to stop and think before they act.“If it’s that easy to designate someone unfit, unhuman because of a disability, the color of their skin, their sex, their sexual orientation — all the stupid labels — be aware because it could be you,” she says.“Someone could decide whatever it is about you is the wrong thing and could target you,” she says. “History has proven that over and over again. That’s what we do.”The above opinion piece is republished with permission from Kansas Reflector.C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch, where Janovy and her writers won numerous local, regional and national awards.

OPINION: Salina steps up to show lynching ‘did happen in Kansas’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid reviewed last night's victory over the Denver Broncos during a presser on Monday. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid reviewed last night's victory over the Denver Broncos during a presser on Monday. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F837699980355940%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

🎥 Chiefs' Reid reviews win over Denver

Many parents have told their children to “think before you speak.” It probably followed our having insulted a friend or relative when we really didn’t mean to. And “I didn’t mean to!” just doesn’t cut it.

Today, some folks believe that “freedom of speech” means anyone can say anything they please and expect others to listen and understand exactly what they meant. But what we thought we said is often not what the listener understood. We do not all have the same experiences and therefore the words we use do not all have exactly the same meanings.

Precise communication is the key skill of a teacher. A teacher who explains a concept in class may see in their puzzled eyes that some do not understand. But if that teacher merely repeats the explanation again, word for word—well, they are a lousy teacher. Good teachers look for examples in students’ lives that make a concept meaningful. That is often why the most effective teacher in a rural school is one who grew up on a farm. They choose words that hold meaning for students with similar experiences.

I learned this requirement of good communication the hard way. On the first day of my college introductory speech class, I was pulled and enrolled in varsity debate. They had an odd number in varsity debate (one was left without a debate partner). We returned from the first tournament with a low score. The professor gently coached me. Do not call the opponents “they.” Always address the substance of the question. Never attack the person. Never question the motives of the opposition. Use examples others clearly understand. –And so on. With each debate, I listened carefully. At the end of the semester, we took first place in the tournament.&nbsp; &nbsp;

That debate coach was Dr. Otis J. Aggertt. The lessons he taught us were about being respectful and compassionate human beings when we spoke. Most important, he helped us to understand that it was not enough to know what we meant when we spoke. What was most important was what the listener understood when they heard us. And if the listener did not understand what we meant, it was the speaker's responsibility to re-word and speak again to be correctly understood.

Whether you are talking with a friend, teaching students, or are a government official addressing the public, it is the speaker’s responsibility to select words carefully so there is no misunderstanding.

Today we see a big contrast among national speakers.&nbsp; For pre-planned speeches, they should have considered how their audience will understand their words. That is why a well-written speech takes time and leaves all listeners with a clear message. When the speaker takes questions from the audience we will see a great speaker pause. Great communicators such as President Reagan and President Obama hesitated as they carefully selected the precise words to use so there would be no misunderstanding among listeners. They were not being “politically correct”—choosing “proper” words to appeal to political groups. They were being responsible. –Carefully selecting words that would be correctly understood. –Being accurate. –Avoiding ambiguity.

Today, good speakers such as Anthony Fauci speak carefully; and if he is misunderstood, he is careful to correct his message. Others who call for the public to “rise up” or “stand by” fail miserably.

Professor Aggertt had actually codified an Oath for Speakers. His students knew the principles well.&nbsp; But today, many speakers violate these tenants of honest communication:

“...I will remember at all times the inherent dignity of humans, for that is more important than any other concern;

And I will strive when speaking publicly to be adequately informed, for I have no right to disseminate ignorance;

To think straight, for I have no right to promote confusion;

To be fully honest both in letter and spirit, and to be socially responsible;

As I bear in mind the welfare of those who may be affected by my speaking.”

There is a freedom of speech, but there is no freedom from consequences. If a speaker disseminates ignorance, promotes confusion, is dishonest and disregards human dignity, we have the full freedom to walk away, and leave them alone babbling to themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCKMany parents have told their children to “think before you speak.” It probably followed our having insulted a friend or relative when we really didn’t mean to. And “I didn’t mean to!” just doesn’t cut it. Today, some folks believe that “freedom of speech” means anyone can say anything they please and expect others to listen and understand exactly what they meant. But what we thought we said is often not what the listener understood. We do not all have the same experiences and therefore the words we use do not all have exactly the same meanings. Precise communication is the key skill of a teacher. A teacher who explains a concept in class may see in their puzzled eyes that some do not understand. But if that teacher merely repeats the explanation again, word for word—well, they are a lousy teacher. Good teachers look for examples in students’ lives that make a concept meaningful. That is often why the most effective teacher in a rural school is one who grew up on a farm. They choose words that hold meaning for students with similar experiences. I learned this requirement of good communication the hard way. On the first day of my college introductory speech class, I was pulled and enrolled in varsity debate. They had an odd number in varsity debate (one was left without a debate partner). We returned from the first tournament with a low score. The professor gently coached me. Do not call the opponents “they.” Always address the substance of the question. Never attack the person. Never question the motives of the opposition. Use examples others clearly understand. –And so on. With each debate, I listened carefully. At the end of the semester, we took first place in the tournament.&nbsp; &nbsp; That debate coach was Dr. Otis J. Aggertt. The lessons he taught us were about being respectful and compassionate human beings when we spoke. Most important, he helped us to understand that it was not enough to know what we meant when we spoke. What was most important was what the listener understood when they heard us. And if the listener did not understand what we meant, it was the speaker's responsibility to re-word and speak again to be correctly understood. Whether you are talking with a friend, teaching students, or are a government official addressing the public, it is the speaker’s responsibility to select words carefully so there is no misunderstanding. Today we see a big contrast among national speakers.&nbsp; For pre-planned speeches, they should have considered how their audience will understand their words. That is why a well-written speech takes time and leaves all listeners with a clear message. When the speaker takes questions from the audience we will see a great speaker pause. Great communicators such as President Reagan and President Obama hesitated as they carefully selected the precise words to use so there would be no misunderstanding among listeners. They were not being “politically correct”—choosing “proper” words to appeal to political groups. They were being responsible. –Carefully selecting words that would be correctly understood. –Being accurate. –Avoiding ambiguity. Today, good speakers such as Anthony Fauci speak carefully; and if he is misunderstood, he is careful to correct his message. Others who call for the public to “rise up” or “stand by” fail miserably. Professor Aggertt had actually codified an Oath for Speakers. His students knew the principles well.&nbsp; But today, many speakers violate these tenants of honest communication: “...I will remember at all times the inherent dignity of humans, for that is more important than any other concern; And I will strive when speaking publicly to be adequately informed, for I have no right to disseminate ignorance; To think straight, for I have no right to promote confusion; To be fully honest both in letter and spirit, and to be socially responsible; As I bear in mind the welfare of those who may be affected by my speaking.” There is a freedom of speech, but there is no freedom from consequences. If a speaker disseminates ignorance, promotes confusion, is dishonest and disregards human dignity, we have the full freedom to walk away, and leave them alone babbling to themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

EDUCATION FRONTLINES: Thinking before we speak

Lupe Bargas was born December 12, 1930. He was the son of Jessie and Maria (Ortiz) Bargas. Lupe served in the United States Army for 26 years, where he was an E-7 Sergeant First Class. He performed two tours in Korea and Vietnam, where he earned a National Defense Service Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, Koren Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars and one silver service star, Good Conduct Medal and United Nations Service Medal, until his honorable retirement. Upon retirement, Lupe served as a Commander for the VFW post 1281 in Herington, KS.

Lupe Bargas was born December 12, 1930. He was the son of Jessie and Maria (Ortiz) Bargas. Lupe served in the United States Army for 26 years, where he was an E-7 Sergeant First Class. He performed two tours in Korea and Vietnam, where he earned a National Defense Service Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, Koren Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars and one silver service star, Good Conduct Medal and United Nations Service Medal, until his honorable retirement. Upon retirement, Lupe served as a Commander for the VFW post 1281 in Herington, KS.Lupe was a loving, independent and strong-willed individual that would do anything for his neighbor. He was an indescribable husband, father and grandfather. When he wasn’t serving his community, or helping a friend, he would root for the Dallas Cowboys and Nebraska Cornhuskers every season. He enjoyed spending time with his family, listening to music, and eating homemade Mexican and German foods.He is preceded in death by four brothers: Paul, John, Jessie Bargas, four&nbsp;sisters Molly Rickel, Dorothy Hudson, Virginia Savage and Josephine Salter, and his parents.Lupe will be watching from heaven over his loving family to include his wife of 57 years, Barbara Bargas of Kansas City. One sister, Connie Mascareno and brother, Frank Bargas. One son, Thomas Bargas of Kansas City, KS, and daughter-in-law Heather Bargas. One step son, Robert Meißner and daughter-in-law Doris Meißner of Germany. As well as two granddaughters, Hannah Bargas of Harker Heights, TX., and Jenna Bargas of Kansas City, KS.Lupe passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at the Salina Regional Health Center. His family will gather with friends at Yazel-Megli Funeral Homes, Herington Chapel on Tuesday December 8 from 5 – 7 p.m. A Rosary service will be held at Yazel-Megli Funeral Homes, Herington Chapel, on Tuesday, December 8 at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, December 9 at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church. He will be laid to rest at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Herington, KS.The family requests memorials to the Herington VFW Post 1281 in legacy of Lupe Bargas, in care of the funeral home. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Lupe at www.ymzfh.com